Balaguer, Apr. 11, Nationalist troops under Gen, Jose Moscardo today crossed the Segre River east of Balaguer and cut the main highways to France and Barcelona and thrust their lines forward to a point within 67 miles of Barcelona, The column under Gen. Moscardo established positions which should enable them to encircle Republican forces behind Lerida and Balaguer, Columns reached Bellcaire along the Balaguer-Barcelona highway and captured nearby Villibona, Republican artillery positions were completely wiped out, Nationalist troops also drove down the left bank of the Segre River en route to Lerida while others advanced on the road to Cubella, Forces under Gen. Aranda were reported to be within twelve miles of the sea coast and to have captured two fortified hills, In Barcelona the Republicans admitted that Nationalist columns had advanced east of Balaguer and that there was some enemy infiltration" in the Villibona sector, Nationalist planes were active in bombing Vinaroz, the Republican corninnd announced, One of them, an Kalian Savoia bomber, was shot down.—United Press.
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